Rooftop Owners Agree to Not Sue if Cubs Stick to 2 Signs: Report

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A collective of rooftop owners surrounding Wrigley Field in Chicago have agreed among themselves to forgo a lawsuit against the Chicago Cubs, according to reports.

The owners told the Chicago Tribune that they would no longer pursue legal action against the team over its proposed renovations to Wrigley Field as long as the team only erects two new signs and no more.

Cubs Owner Plays Hardball with Rooftop Owners

The Cubs end negotiations with rooftop owners and submit a new plan for Wrigley renovations. NBC 5's Anthony Ponce reports. (Published Thursday, May 22, 2014)

Owners told the Tribune that they had not heard back from the Cubs about their latest proposal.

The Cubs have been working on plans to renovate the 100-plus-year-old stadium so they can add seating, an LED sign and a 2,400 square foot video board.

But Cubs communications VP issued a statement Thursday saying the team intends to push forward:

We are 100 percent focused on presenting our revised expansion plan to the Commission on Chicago Landmarks. Our construction timetable depends on getting the required approvals at that meeting so that must be our priority at this time.
We engaged in good-faith discussions with the rooftops and thought we could come to an agreement that would work for all parties. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen. At this point, we’re not prepared to lose another year and jeopardize delivering on the promises we made to our players, fans, partners and neighbors.
We look forward to presenting our revised expansion plan to the Commission on Chicago Landmarks. If they approve our plan, we will begin construction immediately which will generate a significant amount of resources – without taxpayer dollars – to achieve our goals of winning a World Series, saving Wrigley Field and being a good neighbor.

Rooftop owners, who have a contract with the team that requires them to pay 17-percent of their gross revenues to the team in exchange for enjoying field sight lines, objected to the plan over fears it may obstruct the view. The owners' contract runs through 2023.

Frustrated with the impasse, the Chicago Cubs in late May said they would move forward with renovation plans that now include 4 LED signs of up to 650 feet despite the threat of a law suit.

"Unfortunately, it seems like my family's plans for Wrigley Field have gotten lost in the dispute with the rooftops," he said. "As a result, despite having new city ordinances to allow for expansion and renovation at Wrigley Field, we are back to square one with the rooftop businesses."